The Myth of Poop Makeup

The molecule guanine, which we now know is one of the nucleotide bases that make up our DNA, was first extracted from bird poop. That's how it got its name from guano. Makeup manufacturers can use guanine crystals, also known as pearl essence, to make shimmery goos. And while some animals like mites do poop out crystalline Guanine, the guanine that ends up in makeup is usually extracted from fish scales instead.

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